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Obituaries

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Jerry Sandusky's sentencing this morning on 45 counts of child sex abuse is the culmination of a three-year criminal investigation and prosecution. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in Courtroom No. 1 at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, the same room where the former Penn State defensive coordinator's trial was held in June. It is expected to last about two hours.

What will happen?

Because Sandusky was convicted of sex offenses against children, his sentencing hearing is comprised of two phases: the first to determine whether Sandusky is a sexually violent predator, followed by sentencing.

Sandusky's attorneys indicated Monday they would not contest the sexually violent predator designation, meaning the first phase of the hearing could last just a few minutes. The sexually violent predator designation would only affect Sandusky if he were ever released from prison. Under the state's Megan's Law statute, sexually violent predators must register their address and submit to counseling for the rest of their lives. Nonviolent offenders must register for 10 years after prison.

During the sentencing phase of the hearing, the prosecution and defense will be allowed to call witnesses to bolster their cases for and against severe punishment.

The lead prosecutor, Deputy State Attorney General Joseph McGettigan, said as many as six of Sandusky's victims would speak at the hearing. Several others will submit statements in writing, their attorney, Joel Feller, said.

Sandusky will also speak, his attorneys, Joseph Amendola and Karl Rominger, said. The coach turned convict will talk for 10 to 15 minutes, they said, and will maintain his innocence, as he has since his arrest last November.

Sandusky offered a preview of his remarks in a recorded statement that aired Monday night on a Penn State student radio station.

In the statement, Sandusky asked, "Why have so many people suffered as a result of false allegations?"

"We will continue to fight," he said. "We didn't lose the proven facts, evidence, accurate locations and times. Anything can be said. We lost to speculation and stories that were influenced by people who wanted to convict me."

Sandusky's wife, Dottie, and several of his children have submitted letters to the judge, John M. Cleland, Amendola said.

Sandusky had planned to testify at his trial, but Amendola and Rominger decided to keep him off the stand after prosecutors said they would call his adopted son, Matt, as a rebuttal witness. Late in the trial, Matt told investigators Sandusky had abused him too.

After the witnesses speak, Cleland will lead Sandusky through a series of required questions designed to gauge his competence and understanding of the proceeding and his rights.

Then, Cleland will reveal his sentence.

How much time is Sandusky facing?

The 68-year-old Sandusky will likely spend the rest of his life in state prison.

Under state guidelines, Sandusky's 45 convictions will be consolidated for sentencing into about a dozen counts, each covering distinct criminal conduct.

Luzerne County Deputy District Attorney Dave Pedri evaluated the charges Monday and projected Cleland would impose individual sentences on these counts for a maximum of 127 years:

1. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse - for performing more than 25 sexual acts on Victim 1 between June 2007 and September 2008 at Sandusky's home and elsewhere (maximum 20 years).

8. Indecent assault - for conduct with Victim 2 in February 2001 at the Lasch Building on the Penn State campus (maximum 2 years).

12. Indecent assault - for conduct with Victim 3 on various dates between July 1999 and December 2001 at Sandusky's home and the Lasch Building on the Penn State campus (maximum 2 years).

17. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse - for compelling Victim 4 to perform more than 25 sexual acts between October 1996 and December 2000 at Sandusky's home, on the Penn State campus and elsewhere (maximum 20 years).

25. Unlawful contact with minors - for contact with Victim 5 for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct in August 2001 at the Lasch Building on the Penn State campus (maximum 7 years).

29. Unlawful contact with minors - for contact with Victim 6 for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct in May 1998 at the Lasch Building on the Penn State campus (maximum 7 years).

32. Criminal attempt to commit indecent assault - for various attempts to have indecent contact with Victim 7 between September 1995 and December 1996 (maximum 2 years).

34. Corruption of minors - for corrupting the morals of Victim 7 by engaging in sexual conduct on various dates between September 1995 and December 1996 (maximum 5 years).

36. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse - for sexual intercourse with Victim 8 in November 2000 at the Lasch Building on the Penn State campus (maximum 20 years).

37. Indecent assault - for indecent conduct with Victim 8 in November 2000 at the Lasch Building on the Penn State campus (maximum 2 years).

41. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse - for performing sexual acts on Victim 9 on various dates between July 2005 and December 2008 at Sandusky's home (maximum 20 years).

47. Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse - for performing sexual acts on Victim 10 on various dates between September 1997 and July 1999 at Sandusky's home (maximum 20 years).

msisak@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2061 @cvmikesisak

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